A.C. Gilbert Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) Depressed-center Flat Cars

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A scan from the 1950 catalog.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

936

Prototype Info

Style:

depressed-center

Year/Era:

1929

Length:

56'

Road Name:

Erie Railroad (ERIE)

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1953

Road Number(s):

7210

Product Type:

metal

Finish:

painted and lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

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Notes:

These cars were produced through 1956. This version has the attachment brackets, four on each side that are not there on #636. To secure the load, a thin metal wire is attached to the brackets across each end of the reel.

This is Paul Heater's first attempt at converting an A.C. Gilbert car into a "scale" freight car. Paul repainted both the car and the reel, and applied NWP decals. He replaced the tie-down wires with actual chain and attached them as they would in the real world. He also added wood cribbing to keep the load from shifting. Paul removed the exposed portions of the cast-on side steps, and replaced them with hand-formed wire steps. The trucks are American Models 6-wheeled tender trucks. He also replaced the couplers with those by American Models. Finally, he added and weathered the wooden decking, which is decking material sold by Micro-Mark for ship building.

A scan from the 1953 catalog.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

946

Prototype Info

Style:

depressed-center

Length:

56'

Road Name:

Erie Railroad (ERIE)

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1953

Road Number(s):

7210

Product Type:

metal

Finish:

painted and lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

Lighted:

yes!

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Notes:

The #946 was produced through 1956, in six variations. Two of the variations have green motor generators (one is green plastic while the second has a green painted generator). The next three variations all have red painted motor generators. One has chrome-finished lamp housing while the other two have a silver finished light housing. Of these two, one is stamped "NEW 5-29" while the second is stamped "NEW 5-28". The fifth variation has a red plastic motor generator with a silver finished lamp housing, as shown in the photo. Uses knuckle couplers. Note that the light lights up when power is supplied to the rails.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

648

Prototype Info

Style:

depressed-center

Length:

56'

Road Name:

fantasy: American Flyer

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1952

Road Number(s):

648

Product Type:

metal

Finish:

painted and lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

Online Article:

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Notes:

This was a track-cleaning "Service Car". If you compare this car to #636, you'll notice that these use 4-wheel trucks, whereas #636 uses the prototypically-correct 6-wheel trucks. The space of the "missing" axle is taken by the track-cleaning rollers. These models were made through 1954. The leading wipers are saturated with the cleaning fluid (held in the tank "load"), and the trailing wipers dry the rails. A.C. Gilbert #27 Track Cleaner was the recommended product to use. This model used the link couplers.

A scan from the 1952 catalog.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

A.C. Gilbert

Manufacturer ID:

948

Prototype Info

Style:

depressed-center

Length:

56'

Road Name:

fantasy: American Flyer

Model Info

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1953

Road Number(s):

648

Product Type:

metal

Finish:

painted and lettered

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

AF

Online Article:

Supplemental Part:

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